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Mandorla can be commissioned to run creative projects.  The projects described on this page are intended to give a flavour of how Mandorla has worked and in what contexts.  Each of these projects could be adapted and re-worked to fit new criteria and demand.  This page is also intended to demonstrate the diversity of approach and to show, that although we are process led, products such as film, performance, ebooks, teaching resources and training packages are also our speciality.

The River Lyd Project

This was a project funded by Creative Partnerships working with Whitecross School in Lydney, 'Once - Arts for All' and Mandorla Creative.  The young people of Whitecross School wanted to create a campaign to clean up the River Lyd.  Through a process of facilitating workshops using games, drama, interactive discussion groups and idea gathering we decided to make a film which involved three aspects:

• the creation and dramatisation of our own myth of The River Lyd Monster.
• a research group that turned historical facts and figures into works of art.
• a story gathering group that created an installation, took it onto the streets to interview the local residents of Lydney and then turned their stories into poems and visual vignettes.

The Gold Story Bag Project

Storytelling forms part of our cultural tradition. It creates an important vessel for experience and such stories can help educate a society around archetypal themes. This simple process can support us to negotiate and understand the world in which we live and the people around us. The Storybag project allows young people to tell their story. It is a collaborative process; we, Mandorla are both the listeners and the tellers. This storytelling process not only empowers and affirms the individual in the re-telling of their stories, it also supports the community to reveal its own vulnerabilities as well as its success.

Recently we worked this project with Fosseway School in Norton Radstock; a special needs school, some feedback remaks were:

"Fantastic and dynamic way for people to share experiences and feelings"

"Excellent! An alternative way to encourage students to open up and explain their thoughts without being intrusive, very clever " 

In The First Instance…

• We chose eight stories that gave a varied selection of life themes and experience and rehearsed them for performance.
• We set up a neutral ‘liminal’ place in the school. This allowed the children to enter a space that was different from the school environment. It was here that the stories were performed to an audience of one.

The Story Is Told…

• The Storyteller offered the young person a tray of small objects. Each one of these connected to a different story. The young person chose one of these and the story was told, accompanied by the use of objects/props, instruments and dramatisation.
• There was then a dialogue in which responses to the story and answers to open questions were recorded.

The Written Stories…

• The stories were creatively written up from the recordings taken from the young people. In some instances they were written to protect the identity of the young person, or the content was ‘distanced’ slightly. In all instances the essence of the story was honoured.

We Returned…

• The Storytellers then met individually with each young person and retold them their story, they were given the opportunity to make changes and were asked if they wanted their story to be distributed.

The Young People Respond

• For many it was the first time they had heard parts of their life told back to them. It was a real and empowering experience.
• The gathered stories were then retold to other young people. They then responded to the stories in small groups via discussion and artwork.
• The stories and artwork were placed on a CD-Rom ebook, including a lesson plan and ideas for teachers on how to use “The Gold Storybag”, to be distributed.

To go on and on and on……..

The project was celebrated with a spontaneous, improvised Playback Theatre performance.  The young people, their parents and carers along with an adult group of previous students were invited to tell their stories and see them 'played back' by the actors.

Take Control Road Show

Funded by Learning Skills Council and Connexions West of England, New Dawn Creative Consultancy now known as Mandorla Creative devised a show, which grew from the research with individuals and group workshops, held with young people. The aim was to inform and educate young people about e2e (entry to employment) and to raise awareness of young people as active consumers of training and promote greater ownership. The show involved six actors and toured to various schools, youth organisations and young offender institutions.

Moving Around

Funded by Connexions West Of England and Bristol City Council, New Dawn Creative Consultancy now known as Mandorla Creative devised and created a resource pack for teachers and tutors to raise awareness of transport issues and promote independent travel for young people. This project included a short film that captured different moods and views about travel with local young people talking about their experiences and opinions. Section two includes a short radio play set in present day in a typical inner city school and section three is a leaflet which includes lesson plans and suggestions for use in the classroom.

Phobic Label

Funded by Freedom Youth, Mandorla Creative facilitated drama workshops for young Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual young people. The workshops explored the theme of homophobic bullying on a personal and societal level. They culminated in a devised piece of powerful theatre that Freedom Youth then toured around schools to educate and challenge homophobic views and behaviour.

Residentials for Young People

Mandorla Creative planned managed and facilitated fourteen very different three to five-day residentials for young people. The government Street Crime Initiative whose aim was to help reduce crime funded some; European Social Fund and Connexions funded others. They enabled young people, who may not normally have the opportunity, to get away from the city and their environment. To share and express their feelings in a safe and supportive therapeutic space, explore different ways of dealing with problems, make new friends and learn new skills. The activities included drama games and activities, dramatherapy sessions, arts and crafts i.e. glass-painting, collage, lantern and mask making, story making and singing around the bonfire, self defence, horse riding, canoeing, abseiling, paintball, swimming, sauna and jacuzzi. Day trips included caves, gold mines, the seaside, a lighthouse, a castle, a theme park and a safari park. Each residential was a challenge, a unique learning and growing experience for all those involved and a very moving and soulful journey for Mandorla.